Windows 10 stuck in login loop

Question

Windows 10 stuck in login loop

Robert Johnstone 0

Windows 10 boots up to the 'lock screen' picture, but upon any keyboard/mouse input, it quickly flashes to the user login 'overlay' and back to the lock screen picture. There are no power options in the bottom right hand corner, just the internet status icon. I can't use CTRL ALT DEL, or the shift key + power to break into safe mode, or any other suggested actions found on the internet.

Anybody else having this problem? Is there any utility that can break into this cycle?

1 answer

Your answer

Answer 1

DaveM121 815.8K Independent Advisor

Are you able to force your PC into the Recovery Environment using these steps to try to fix the login process?

Start your PC, just as Windows attempts to load (spinning dots), press and hold Power Button for 5 - 10 seconds to perform a Hard Shut Down

Do this twice

On the third start Windows will boot into the Recovery Environment and from there you can access System Repair, Safe Mode, Command Prompt... etc.

Please try each option one at a time, then see if Windows will successfully login.

Go to Troubleshoot - Advanced Option - Startup Repair

See if Windows startup can repair itself

Go to Troubleshoot - Advanced Option - System Restore

Check to see if you have a restore point you can go back to

Robert Johnstone 0 Reputation points

2025-11-27T19:22:52.7066667+00:00

This is the same old Microsoft answer to everything. No - startup repair never works. No - there is never a restore point. The install is less than 6 months old, without a 'user backup', which is never done automatically. Shift+power option can't be done because there is no power icon on the lock screen, only internet status, so 'safe mode' is inaccessible. It is jammed at the stock lock screen picture, with momentary flashes of the user login overlay when keys or mouse are pressed. What is needed is a way to break this loop, or disable the particular user login attempt that it has a problem with. A DOS utility (from advanced options) to delete users other than Admin would be most useful, but is sadly lacking. Most frustratingly, this happened after a Windows update.
DaveM121 815.8K Reputation points Independent Advisor

2025-11-28T06:31:55.57+00:00

If none of the options available in the Recovery Environment, then you will need to create a bootable Windows 10 USB on another working PC and boot your PC from that, then rather than installing Windows 10, select ‘Repair this Computer’ that will give you access to the Recovery Environment from there

In the Recovery Environment on the USB, try each available option.

Click this link: https://www.microsoft.com/software-download/windows10

to download the Media Creation Tool (Click on Download Tool Now), with that you can download the latest Windows 10 ISO (Select Create Installation Media for Another PC), you can create a bootable USB flash drive (min 8GB) using that tool Then, Boot your PC from the Installation Media you just created (change Boot Order in your BIOS)

Share via

Windows 10 stuck in login loop

1 answer

Your answer